Chapter 36: Shadows of the Abyss

A week had passed since the lecture ended.

I gazed at the tower before me.

The tower gleamed with an abyssal black hue.

It didn’t reflect even the faintest light.

That dark form loomed straight into the sky, as though it sought to blot out the heavens.

Shadows spilled from it, cascading down the mountain ridges like a river and soaking the slopes.

The black streams coiled around the mountain, spreading further and further.

They were filled with writhing greed, devouring all light and color in their path.

The places touched by the streams became pale, as if drained of all vibrance.

The magical energy emanating from these streams was so intense that approaching it seemed impossible.

However, the power that spread across the mountain and dyed it white was merely the shadow leaking from the tower.

‘If this was only the shadow’s effect, then how great was the power contained within the tower itself?’

The thought was beyond imagination.

Carefully stepping away from the shadow creeping near my feet, I swallowed nervously.

If I got caught in it, I would surely dissolve into nothingness.

On the way up the mountain, I had seen a few birds succumb to the same fate.

I had come here to attend a lecture by Professor Heisen.

I was filled with excitement, curious about what kind of lecture awaited me.

But I hadn’t anticipated that even the tower itself would be so overwhelmingly unique.

Others were lingering nearby, just as tense as I was.

They were clearly gathered here for the same purpose.

But something felt off.

Each person seemed exceptionally skilled.

They exuded powerful magical energy, so much so that figures like Hwaryoung or Goro would appear insignificant in comparison.

This wasn’t what I imagined.

The atmosphere was far removed from my expectations.

‘A nagging suspicion began to creep in: Had I misjudged this?’

I recalled something Hwaryoung mentioned when I signed up.

She had said Professor Heisen’s lecture had very few applicants because it was incredibly advanced.

‘But was “advanced” referring to the lecture content, or the qualifications of its attendees?’

A low sigh escaped my lips.

As I surveyed my surroundings nervously, the clock struck ten.

It was time for the lecture to begin.

The massive door of the tower creaked open.

From within, a dense darkness spilled out like a mist.

Without hesitation, the others began stepping into the tower.

I hesitated briefly before slowly immersing myself in the mist.

***

After walking through the mist for a while, I found myself inside the tower.

A strange, sinking darkness and a cold air enveloped me.

I scanned my surroundings.

Surprisingly, the interior was neat and orderly—quite unlike what I had envisioned from outside.

Following the others, I moved deeper inside

Smooth black walls extended in every direction.

Shadows flickered along them, carrying the tower’s magical energy.

Lanterns placed along the walls emitted faint light, adding depth to the shadows.

The entire tower seemed alive, pulsating with an eerie power.

As I continued inward, the shadows grew thicker, and the light faded.

Finally, I arrived at the central hall, where a massive sphere floated.

The sphere constantly shifted its shape, rippling like liquid.

Our reflections wavered faintly on its smooth surface.

From the sphere, shadows extended outward, climbing the ceiling, floor, and walls.

They resembled the sprawling roots of a great tree, filling the entire space.

This seemed to be the origin of all the shadows we had seen thus far.

It felt as though the entire tower’s magic was concentrated in this sphere.

Before it stood a woman with an exhausted expression.

Her weary demeanor and drooping posture reminded me of Professor Heisen.

The woman slowly scanned the room, counting us.

I couldn’t move.

Neither could anyone else.

The suffocating aura she emitted was paralyzing.

It was as though we were confronting something that shouldn’t exist in this world.

Her power overwhelmed everyone in the room.

It was fleeting, but even for a moment, she resembled Professor Heisen.

“Ah… everyone is here now…”

Her voice was barely audible, a mumble that seemed almost reluctant.

“I… am Myra… a researcher under Professor Heisen…”

She seemed uneasy even as she introduced herself.

A researcher at Myra’s level was exceptionally advanced.

It was said that people aspiring to become professors worked their way to her position, but this was the first time I had seen someone like her in person.

“Now… close your eyes… and entrust yourselves to this sphere…”

She gestured toward the black sphere.

The sphere partially opened, revealing a dark interior.

A long, forked tongue emerged, flickering ominously.

It lashed out and swallowed the closest person whole.

The sudden motion startled a few people, causing them to stumble backward.

I was among them.

“Don’t worry… the path is correct… Just be careful not to open your eyes… or you might be taken…”

Myra’s sluggish explanation came too late—over half the attendees had already been consumed.

Those who went first wouldn’t have heard her at all.

One by one, the others were swallowed up.

Standing there felt like awaiting a ritual sacrifice.

But I had no choice but to go forward.

Clenching my eyes shut, I stepped closer.

Something slick coiled around my waist.

The strange force carried me through an eerie magical flow to an unknown place.

Finally, the movement stopped, and the tongue released me.

When I opened my eyes, I saw an ordinary lecture hall.

It resembled the lecture rooms I was accustomed to in other towers.

Many attendees were already settling into seats.

I stayed back, waiting for the others to take their places.

I was the weakest here—not just weak but insignificant, like a speck of dust.

‘If I sit down first and upset one of these seniors, I’ll regret it,’ I thought.

Quietly, I observed, blending into the background.

Once everyone had taken their seats, I cautiously chose an empty spot.

The lecture hall was steeped in silence.

No one spoke.

The atmosphere was tense, as though everyone viewed each other as rivals.

I wondered how the lecture would unfold for it to feel so stifling before it even began.

***

After waiting in silence for a long while, Professor Heisen emerged, riding on shadows.

I hadn’t noticed his arrival until he began to speak.

“Hmm, there are a few familiar faces.”

He stood at the podium, glancing around the room.

Several attendees lowered their heads at his words—those seated closest to the podium.

Having met the professor likely meant they had attended his lecture before.

Perhaps they were repeat students.

Professor Heisen scanned them with a dispassionate gaze before shifting his attention.

“My lectures always proceed in the same way. Myra, distribute the materials.”

At his command, Myra emerged from his shadow, holding an armful of papers.

With a flick of her magic, the papers floated into the air.

The papers floated down in front of each student.

Peeking at mine, I saw it was densely packed with text—some kind of questionnaire.

“This is a two-thousand-question survey to evaluate you. You have one hour to complete and submit it,” Professor Heisen announced before closing his eyes.

I quickly pulled out my pen and infused it with magic.

I didn’t fully understand the situation, but I knew I had to give it my all.

Flipping through the questionnaire, I skimmed the questions:

[Can the color you dislike the most deceive you?]

[If something other than yourself controls you, how would you respond?]

[If your fifth finger became your sixth, what would be the reason?]

[When light disappears and darkness approaches, what will you notice first?]

1) Color 2) Sound 3) Flow 4) Presence

[When do you think your death will come?]

The questions were abstract and bizarre.

There was no time to ponder deeply.

Answering two thousand questions in one hour required speed.

I scribbled answers as they came to mind.

[How many people have you killed?] Approximately one hundred.

[Describe the first time you used magic.] At thirteen.

The surreal questions blurred together, some seeming profound and others nonsensical.

Finally, I managed to complete all two thousand answers just within the time limit.

Looking around, I saw most of the others had already finished and were waiting.

Professor Heisen remained still, eyes closed, while Myra, standing behind him, checked her watch.

She tapped his shoulder lightly, then began collecting the surveys.

The papers disappeared into the shadows surrounding her.

Professor Heisen opened his eyes leisurely.

Checking the time Myra showed him, he spoke.

“The sphere you passed through to enter this place is where the shadows of the dead accumulate. It’s a subspace I created over many years. The entities within it always yearn for form, so they attach themselves to the shadows of the living.”

As he spoke, he drew a shadow from beneath his feet.

It wavered faintly, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

“From now on, you will nurture one of these for five years. The survey helped determine which one suits you best. Using your answers as a guide, a matching shadow will follow you.”

He tossed the faint shadow to the student seated nearest to him.

The shadow sank into their own, disappearing completely.

“These creatures grow by consuming your shadow. All you need to do is nurture them. Whatever you do, the shadow will grow stronger. The more powerful its host, the greater its potential.

“Every three months, there will be a test using these shadows.”

At that moment, it all became clear.

That explained why lower-tier students weren’t here.

Looking around, I noticed everyone exuded overwhelming magical energy.

Strength was clearly advantageous in this course.

No wonder it felt off from the beginning.

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

No matter what I did, there was no way I could surpass these people.

“For five years, only nineteen of you will pass. An additional eleven will be chosen by me. Those who succeed will retain their shadows after the course. The rest will have theirs reclaimed and disposed of. Keep that in mind.”

Now I understood why so many students repeated this lecture.

It was for the shadows.

For me, however, hope seemed out of reach.

I couldn’t help but think of Professor Irien.

The only reason I applied for this lecture was her directive.

‘Did she know about this situation when she sent me here?’

‘What was her intent?’

I couldn’t fathom it.

“Now, I will distribute the shadows. With them, you will be able to traverse the tower freely. That’s all.”

As he finished speaking, shadows surged from beneath him like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire lecture hall.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Within it, I felt a faint connection to something.

The presence merged seamlessly with my shadow.

As the darkness receded, the lecture hall brightened once more.

Looking down at my feet, I saw nothing outwardly different.

But through a subtle connection to my shadow, I could sense something residing within it.

It was an odd sensation, akin to when I controlled small animals using magical seedlings.

“Today’s session ends here. You, follow me,” Professor Heisen said suddenly.

‘I hope it’s not me,’ I thought, but the air grew tense.

Glancing around, I realized everyone was looking at me.

Professor Heisen’s gaze was fixed on me too.

“Yes, sir!” I blurted out, standing abruptly.

Immediately, my shadow surged and enveloped me.

In an instant, I was transported to another room filled with documents.

It seemed to be Professor Heisen’s office.

He appeared naturally from the shadows, his weary face gesturing toward a chair stacked with papers.

I carefully moved the documents to the floor and sat down quietly, too nervous to explore my surroundings.

‘Why had he summoned me?’

As my mind raced through possible reasons, Professor Heisen settled at his desk, calmly working through his own stack of documents.

It wasn’t until the pile had diminished by half that he finally spoke.

“Your name is Evron, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied cautiously.

He glanced at me briefly before continuing.

“You were brought into my lecture because of a request from Professor Irien. She specifically asked me to give you a shadow. I owe her a favor, so I agreed.”

He gestured toward me with his pen, its tip flickering with potent magic.

“I’m aware you’re not at the level required for my course. Just do your best. I’ll ensure you pass.”

A smile crept onto my face despite myself.

I had nearly given up, and now I learned my spot had been prearranged.

Professor Irien had gone to such lengths for me.

I didn’t know what these shadows were exactly, but judging by the lengths others went to obtain them, they were no ordinary tools.

I realized I had misunderstood Professor Irien all along.

I had thought of her as a capricious mentor, but her actions clearly carried profound meaning.

‘How could a candle comprehend the sun’s path?’ I thought, resolving to follow her guidance more faithfully.

Even her casual, lounging moments now seemed deliberate in hindsight.

Professor Heisen observed me for a moment before speaking again.

“I’m telling you this for one reason. Engrave her grace into your soul. Completely and sincerely.”

With that, he tapped my forehead with his pen.

“You may go now.”

Before I could respond, his magic surged, swallowing me once more.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself back in the lecture hall.

Rubbing my forehead, I let out a wry smile.

‘Engrave her grace into my soul? I already am,’ I thought, glancing at the contract etched on my wrist.

The elegant script detailing my bond stood out clearly.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder about the relationship between Professor Irien and Professor Heisen.

‘What could have happened between them for him to show her such deference?’

I had no answers.